Deck lid lock



H. w. RIGHTMYER 1,957,86

DECK LID L Filed y 1932 1 1 1 3 30 #17 {V A \K K g wtoz Patented May 8, 1934 NETED STATES 1,957,806 DECK LID LOCK Holden W. Rightmyer, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The American Swiss Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 9, 1932, Serial No. 610,048

2 Claims.

This invention relates to door locks, or latches, but more particularly to a latch for the door of the rear deck of a coupe.

An object is to produce a simple and inexpensive latch of this character having a latching member which is releasably held in unlatched position when the door is open by a tensioned oscillatable member, that is automatically moved to inoperative position when the door is closed to enable the latching member to be swung to latching position.

Another object is to produce a latch having the new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described, and for purposes of illustration, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1--1 of Figure 2 showing the parts of the latch in latching position;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1 showing the upper side of the latchengaging plate or keeper.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a flanged mounting plate 10, which is secured by screws, or other suitable means, to the deck lid 11. Cooperating with the plate 10 is a plate 12 forming a housing in which is pivoted a catch 13. The catch 13 is approximately L-shaped, and is pivotally mounted at one end on a rivet, or other suitable member, between the plates 10 and 12. I

Suitably secured to the inner end of the catch 13 is a spindle 14 of a key operated lock 15, which is accessible from the outside of the lid 11. The spindle is square in cross section to fit an aperture in the catch. The hooked end of the catch 13 is provided with an inclined cam surface 16 terminating in an inner curved surface 17. This end of the catch is engageable with an arcuately shaped finger 18 integral with a stationary plate 19. The plate 19 is secured by screws 20 to a frame member 21 of the automobile body.

The finger 18 is spaced outwardly from the plate 19, and is integrally connected thereto by an outwardly pressed portion 22. The finger extends outwardly over a cut-out portion 23 of the plate, enabling the hooked end of the catch 13 to extend beneath the finger 18, thereby secure- 1y to hold the lid 11 in closed position against rattles. Since the curved portion 17 of the catch engages the arcuate undersurface of the finger 18, tendency of the catch to become unseated is prevented. It will be seen that the finger is rigid with the plate 19, and, owing to the manner in which it is connected to the plate,

the catch 13 in unlatched position. This eliminates liability of breaking or damaging the catch when the lid is slammed to closed position, and assured that the catch will be disposed 12 so long as the lid 11 is in open position.

,When the lid is closed the catch 13 is automatically released, so that by actuation of the key 29, or other suitable means, the catch may be this purpose a finger or arm 30 is integral with an intermediate portion of the arm 25, and extends downwardly therefrom. In the present embodiment the arm 30 functions to swing the arm 25 out of latching engagement with the catch 13. The lower end of the arm is adapted to abut against the body 21, so that when the lid 11 is fully closed, the arm 25 is automatically swung in a clockwise direction (Figure 1) a sufiicient distance to release the catch 13.

As shown, the stationary plate 19 is provided with a relatively large opening 31 through which the arm 30 freely extends. Manifestly, when the lid 11 is lifted the spring 26 actuates the hook 27 of the arm 25 into engagement with the inner end of the catch 13 and upon movement of the catch in a retracting direction sufficiently to release the finger 18, the hook engages the abutment 28, thereby retaining the catch in unlatched po- L sition until the lid is again closed or the arm 30 otherwise depressed.

It is to be understood that the above is given engagement with the abutment 28 and retains" within the housing formed by the plates 10 and moved into engagement with the finger 18. For

merely by way of illustration and not of limitation, and numerous changes in details of con-" struction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A door latch comprising a case plate, a flat substantially L-shaped latch bolt pivoted to said case plate, a flat substantially T-shaped arm disposed in the plane of said latch bolt with the vertical arm thereof projecting freely outside of said case plate and disposed at substantially right angles to the horizontal portion of the latch bolt when the latter is in latching position, a pivotal mounting for the horizontal or cross member of said arm at a point remote from the pivotal mounting of said latch bolt, a hook on the opposite end of the cross member of said arm, and an abutment on said latch bolt engageable by said hook for holding the latch bolt in unl'a'tched position.

2. A door latch comprising a case plate, a latch bolt pivoted to said case plate having a keeperengaging portion disposed at substantially rig-ht angles to the axis thereof, means engageable with said latch bolt for holding same in unlatched position, said means comprising an arm having a portion projecting freely outside of said case plate, said projecting portion being disposed at substantially right angles to the keeper-engaging portion of said latch bolt when the latter is in latching position, an angularly extending portion integral with said arm, a pivotal mounting for one end of said angularly extending portion, a hook on the free end of said angularly extending portion adjacent said latch bolt, and an abutment on said latch bolt engageable by said hook for holding the latch bolt in unlatched position, said freely projecting arm being arranged for contact purposes for disengaging the hook from said abutment thereby to release said latch bolt for operation.

HOLDEN W. RIGHTMYER. 

